AmericanswhovolunteerforthePeaceCorpsgetachancetohelpimprovelivesindevelopingcountries.Theyalsogetachancetolearnmoreabouttheworld,andaboutthemselves.Thisweekthisprogramiscelebratingits50thanniversary. PresidentJohnKennedyestablishedthePeaceCorpssoonafterhetookofficein1961.ItwasthetimeoftheColdWarbetweentheUnitedStatesandtheSovietUnion.ThenewprogramgaveAmericansachancetoanswerthecalltoservicethatthepresidentmadeinhisinaugural(就职的)speech.“Asknotwhatyourcountrycandoforyou,”hesaid.“Askwhatyoucandoforyourcountry.”KennedytoldPeaceCorpsvolunteersthatAmerica’simageinthecountrieswheretheyweregoingwoulddependlargelyonthem. OnAugust30th,1961,thefirstgroupof51PeaceCorpsvolunteersarrivedinAccra,Ghana,toserveasteachers.Theyhadagreedtoworkforalmostnopay.TheywouldspendtwoyearsinGhanahelpingitspeopleandlearningtherealityoflifeinadevelopingcountry.Mostofthevolunteershadjustcompletedcollege.AbouthalfofthemtaughtEnglishorhealthcare.Inthe50yearssincethen,morethan200,000AmericanshaveservedasPeaceCorpsvolunteers.Theyhaveworkedin139countries. ThePeaceCorpsisagovernmentagencythatwascreatedtopromoteworldpeaceandfriendship.Therearethreegoals:First,tohelpthepeopleofinterestedcountriesinmeetingtheirneedfortrainedmenandwomen.Second,tohelppromoteabetterunderstandingofAmericansonthepartofthepeopleserved.And,third.tohelppromoteabetterunderstandingofotherpeopleonthepartofAmericans. Today,thePeaceCorpshasmorethan8,000volunteersandtraineesin77countries.Theyworkinagriculture,economicdevelopment,education,theenvironmentandhealthcare.Someworkinprogramsrelatedtoyouthdevelopment. SixtypercentofcurrentPeaceCorpsvolunteersarewomen.Theaverageageofavolunteeris28.ButtheagesofPeaceCorpsvolunteersrangefrom18to86.SomeAmericansjointhePeaceCorpsaftertheyretire.Todaysevenpercentofvolunteersareovertheageof50.And19percentaremembersofminoritygroups. 小题1:VolunteersforthePeaceCorpscan_______. |
A.improvetheirabilitiesbylearninginsomedevelopedcountries |